Carlos U. Corvera, M.D.

Carlos U. Corvera, M.D. is Associate Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery Program at UCSF. Dr. Corvera is President-Elect of the UCSF Naffziger Surgical Society for the 2013-2014 term.

A trained surgical oncologist, Dr. Corvera has extensive experience in the treatment of benign and malignant hepatobiliary disease including hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer), liver metastases, and cancers of the stomach, gall bladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. Additionally, Dr. Corvera performs surgery for melanoma and soft tissue sarcomas. Dr. Corvera specializes in complex and intricate cancer surgeries, including minimally invasive liver resections that greatly minimize post-operative pain and speed recovery. Dr. Corvera, who performs a high volume of such procedures, is also a pioneer and innovator of surgical techniques in the field.

Dr. Corvera graduated from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at UCSF, and fellowships in surgical oncology and hepatobiliary surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Dr. Corvera’s scientific research interest is focused on understanding the mechanisms of biliary tract fibrosis and inflammation. More specifically, he is interested in studying the clinical consequences of biliary fibrosis– mainly cholestatisis. Cholestasis is characterized by impaired bile flow causing a high concentration of bile acids in the liver and the circulation. Prolonged exposure to bile acids in the liver can progress to end-stage liver disease and cirrhosis. In the gastrointestinal tract, the absence of bile flow causes profound local and systemic metabolic disturbances. Dr. Corvera is actively investigating the role of a novel cell surface receptor specific for bile acids that may play a critical role in normal and disease states.